Carbo Analytics Recieves DOE Grant

Joanna Schroeder

Carbo Analytics, developers of sugar analysis systems, has received a Department of Energy (DOE) grant for the development of a biofuels sugar analysis system. The company was awarded a $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for FY 2013. Their application “Simple and Rapid Determination of Total Accessible C5 and C6 Content of Biomass Samples” was one of 79 that were selected to receive this grant.

CarboAnalyticsCarbo Analytics has partnered with CEM Corporation, the worldwide leader in microwave digestion systems, to prepare biomass samples. According to the company, this combined solution will give biofuel operators increased visibility into feedstock quality.

Fermentable sugar content of a given material is directly related to the total amount of biofuel that can be produced. Now, a simple and fast method for sugar measurement allows raw material value to be readily assessed. It also allows biofuel operators to flag potential feedstock problems and facilitate suppliers in developing and supplying the highest value products.

“We are excited to be partnering with Carbo Analytics,” said Michael J. Collins, President and CEO of CEM Corporation. “The powerful combination of their sugar analysis system and our microwave digester makes for a unique capability that no other technology can currently match.”

Renewable energy from bioethanol involves pretreatment of biomass, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation. Biomass contains the C6 sugars (e.g. glucose, fructose and mannose), primarily from cellulose, and C5 sugars (e.g. xylose, and arabinose) from the hemicellulose part of the plant material. Fast measurement of these sugars is the key indicator of feedstock value and the potential production of a biofuel plant.Read More

advanced biofuels, feedstocks

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFThe 33rd Alcohol School, hosted by the Ethanol Technology Institute, is scheduled for September 15-20, 2013 in Montreal, Quebec. The school is designed to educate delegates on proven technology and advances in fuel ethanol and distilled beverage production, and delegates have the opportunity to attend either Fuel or Distilled Beverage lectures.
  • The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) has received the status as an accredited American National Standards Developer. This designation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a result of a six-month application and review process including a public review period.
  • Trina Solar Limited has recently supplied 7 MW of photovoltaic modules to Ikaros Solar for an agricultural project in the United Kingdom (UK). The solar system will be installed at Goose Willow Farm in Abindon using 24,000 Trina Solar modules.
  • A new poll of business professionals conducted on PwC US’ recent webcast, Boosting your bottom line through eco-efficiency, found that 52 percent of respondents rank eco-efficiency as a high or growing priority. PwC also launched a new report, “Less can be more: better for the bottom line and the environment,” offering ideas for companies considering eco-efficiency strategies.
  • EcoEngineers has announced new speakers for its RIN Academy taking place August 26, 2013 in Des Moines, IA. Speakers include: Jon Scharingson, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, REG; Sandra Dunphy, Director, Energy Services, Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.; Stephen Emmert, Regional Director, Biofuel Strategy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Chris Highsmith, Director of Market Research, Eco-Energy, Inc.; Shashi Menon, Managing Partner, EcoEngineers ; Jeff Hove, Vice President, RINAlliance; and Dr. Bruce Babcock, Iowa State University, BioEconomy Institute.
Bioenergy Bytes

New FOE Study Slams Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

A new study by Friends of the Earth slams biofuels and bases many of its conclusions on indirect land use change (ILUC) a hotly debated theory. The report, “Understanding the Biofuel Trade-offs between Indirect Land Use Change, Hunger and Poverty,” authored by 2013_01_malawi_09 Photo UNTimothy Searchinger, relies on ILUC theory and leaves out several underlying causes of global hunger when making an attempt to connect biofuels production and food security.

In response to the study, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) who says that Searchinger’s theory attempts to predict future land use patterns globally that might result from the increased production of biofuels, has been disproven and discredited by a significant number of scientists and academics.

“ILUC has proven to be faulty because modeling relies on hundreds of assumptions, not facts, to predict future land use patterns around the world,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the GRFA. “There is an abundance of evidence that shows ILUC to have no ability to accurately predict future land use patterns and that Searchinger was wrong.”

Bliss continued, “When attempting to draw a link between biofuels production and hunger, Mr. Searchinger conveniently ignores the fact that the world produces twice as much food as is consumed. It is well understood that food security and hunger are directly related to poverty, accessibility, and a lack of investment in agriculture to name a few of the underlying issues.”

A recent study, Global Food – Waste Not, Want Not, by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) found that half of all global food, 1 to 2 billion tons, goes to waste before reaching people’s stomachs each year. According to the IMechE study, food is wasted at every point in the supply chain, including: poor harvesting practices, storage, transportation, market waste and consumer waste. In developing countries, waste occurs mostly at the farmer-producer end of the supply chain and moves up the chain the more developed the country. In developed countries, grocery stores often reject produce because it does not meet certain appearance standards.Read More

biofuels, Indirect Land Use, International

Bioheat Seen as Warming Biodiesel Trading

John Davis

BioHeatMandates for biodiesel-blended heating oil … better known as Bioheat … are seen as good news for the growth of biodiesel, and traders are taking note. This article posted on SECFilings.com says the Bioheat mandates, coupled with other biodiesel mandates, will make the green fuel an investment that could make some real green, too.

In early July, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed legislation requiring that all heating oil sold in the state contain at least 2% biodiesel by 2015. The new regulation will replace about 30 million gallons of petroleum each year with cleaner burning, renewable fuel that is safe, seamless and improves fuel efficiency throughout the state…

Interestingly, New York City regulators have also been considering broader biodiesel mandates for their municipal vehicle fleets earlier this year. While no official plans have been announced, city officials are reportedly planning a move from a B5 fleet to a B20 fleet and even considering public biodiesel requirements that could impact private companies…

With a population of 19.57 million in 2012, New York State’s 30 million gallon increase in biodiesel demand equates to about 1.5 gallons per person per year. These metrics suggest that a nationwide heating fuel program along the same lines could represent an additional 471 million gallons of demand per year, given the U.S. population in the year 2012.

The article goes on to say some of the companies you might want to consider when investing in biodiesel includes Renewable Energy Group Inc., Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc., and Methes Energies International Ltd.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel of Las Vegas Becomes BQ-9000 Certified

John Davis

biodieseloflasvegastanks1Biodiesel of Las Vegas becomes BQ-9000 certified by the National Biodiesel Board. Biodiesel Magazine says the 4 million gallon per year refinery is the first and only biodiesel producer in Nevada to receive this certification and joins a select group of 46 other biodiesel producers in the U.S.

“We are pleased to welcome Biodiesel of Las Vegas into the BQ-9000 program,” said National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission Chairman Scott Fenwick. “Their efforts to become BQ-9000-certified show their continued commitment to fuel quality and will help ensure they are delivering the highest quality fuel to their customers.”

According to the NBB, to receive accreditation, companies must pass rigorous review and inspection of their quality control process by an independent auditor to ensure the program is fully implemented.

“Becoming BQ-9000-certified shows our industry that we are committed to producing quality fuel for our community,” said Brandon Buff, vice president of Biodiesel of Las Vegas. “This certification also reinforced to our team what we have accomplished and becomes a milestone in our roadmap for the future.”

The BQ-9000 accreditation includes the ASTM D6751 quality standard for biodiesel, as well as considering a system of storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.

Biodiesel, NBB

Propane Road Tour Hits the Road

Joanna Schroeder

The Propane Road Tour is hitting the road today sponsored by Blue Bird, a manufacturer of propane autogas powered school buses and ROUSH CleanTech. The Screen Shot 2013-07-11 at 3.12.15 PMsingle-bus tour will stop at iconic American landmarks on its way to deliver the last bus from the largest single order of 434 propane-fueled buses to Student Transportation of America’s (STA) new terminal in Omaha, Neb. The bus tour begins at Blue Bird’s headquarters in Fort Valley, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, and ends in Omaha on July 17, with multiple stops in Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri.

“The purpose of the Propane Road Tour is to provide the opportunity for school districts and communities to learn about the outstanding benefits of using propane autogas,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Communities along the tour route, from Georgia to Omaha, have an opportunity to talk with key industry representatives about the economic, safety and environmental benefits of propane-powered school buses. This bus tour also showcases STA’s commitment to becoming a frontrunner in creating a cleaner environment for the Omaha and Millard Public School Districts that the buses will serve.”

The goal of the Propane Road Tour is to raise awareness of propane autogas as a clean, safe and efficient alternative fuel for school bus use that is more cost-effective to operate than diesel. Along the route, the bus will refuel at existing public propane autogas fuel stations.Read More

Propane

St. Louis Scientists Invited to the White House

Joanna Schroeder

The White House invited Dr. Terry Woodford-Thomas, director of science education and outreach at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center along with Dr. Cindy Encarncion, director of life sciences at the St. Louis Science Center to D.C. during a recent Champions of Change award program event. The event recognized American citizens’ contributions to their communities and highlighted “citizen science” projects across the nation.

champions-of-changeDr. Woodford-Thomas and Dr. Encarncion, were invited to attend the event because of their contributions to a White House report on the impact of citizen science programs across the nation, as well as for leading Backyard Biofuels, a collaborative program between the Danforth Plant Science Center and St. Louis Science Center.

With funding from National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Backyard Biofuels project opened to the public in 2010. Since then, thousands of algae collection kits were distributed and several hundred “algae hunters,” ranging from the age of six to adults contributed algae from across the nation. The Backyard Biofuels Project not only contributed valuable sets of naturally-occurring oil-producing algae to bioenergy scientists for investigative research; importantly, it allowed students whose interest in science could be enhanced by working side-by-side with “real” scientists in cutting-edge research laboratories to be identified and nurtured.

“Citizen science drives people to engage in discovery, both scientific discovery and self-discovery. It also helps to translate this understanding of science into action,” said Dr. Woodford-Thomas.

For three years, a celebration of “All Things Algae” or Algae Palooza, was held at the Saint Louis Science Center to engage citizens in various activities such as algae identification from pond water, making biofuel from plant vegetable oil, painting with algae, making algae ball “bling”, observing science grade algae photobioreactors in action and meeting Danforth Center scientists engaged in algae biofuels research.Read More

advanced biofuels, algae, bioenergy

Houses Passes Revised Version of Farm Bill

Joanna Schroeder

The House has voted to pass a partisan, revised version of its farm bill, H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARRM) 216 to 208. The Chairman Frank D Lucasversion does not include food stamp authorization but keeps in tact current agricultural programs. The debate over the bill has been long and drawn out and took up most of yesterday and today before the bill was brought up for vote with pleas from Chairman Frank D. Lucas to pass the bill and go home to their families.

The House claims that FARRM helps diversify the nation’s energy supply and creates new economic opportunities in rural America by promoting the development of advanced biofuels and renewable energy. However, the bill eliminates mandatory funding and reauthorizes programs at reduced discretionary funding levels that they say will save taxpayers $500 million. Energy programs affected include: Rural Energy for America (REAP), Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), Biorefinery Assistance Program (BAP), Biobased Markets Program, and the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program.

In addition, FARRM reauthorizes the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, the Repowering Assistance Program, the Biomass Research and Development Program, the Feedstock Flexibility Program, and the Community Wood Energy Program. It repeals or ends authorizations of the Biofuels Infrastructure Study, and the Renewable Fertilizer Study, the Rural Energy Self sufficiency Initiative, and the Forest Biomass for Energy Programs.

Screen Shot 2013-07-11 at 3.51.47 PMIn response to the passage of the bill, Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) said, “Now that the U.S. House has adopted its version of the Farm Bill, ACE will be working to encourage the House-Senate conference committee to finalize legislation that mirrors the Senate Bill. The Senate version contains support for important Energy Title initiatives, particularly mandatory funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).”

Jennings continued, “These REAP funds provide vital cost-share assistance to help petroleum marketers make upgrades or install new equipment at retail stations, ensuring consumers have access to renewable and affordable fuels such as ethanol. We are hopeful Congress enacts a multi-year, comprehensive farm bill that resembles the Senate legislation before the September 30 deadline.”

The Senate version includes a robust portfolio energy program as well as funds the programs. The next step is for the House-Senate conference committee to draft and present a compromised version of the bill.

ACE, advanced biofuels, Agribusiness, farm bill

EU Votes to Cap Biofuel “Food” Feedstock Use

Joanna Schroeder

Screen Shot 2013-07-11 at 12.58.19 PMThis week the European Parliament Environment Committee voted for the European Union (EU) to cap the amount of food used as biofuels at 5.5 percent. Groups opposed to the measure want to see an end to biofuels created from “food” crops. The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive requires EU member states to use 10 percent of the road transport fuel from renewable sources by 2020. Historically, the mandate has been met with feedstocks also used to produce food (corn, wheat, soy).

The first generation cap on “agri-fuels” is an attempt to help the country transition to advanced biofuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from indirect land use change (ILUC).

“I nonetheless think that the industry must be given time to adapt, and I shall propose a compromise to this end in plenary session,” said rapporteur Corinne Lepage (ALDE, FR) after the vote. Her first-reading report was approved by 43 votes to 26, with one abstention.

“While today’s vote for a 5.5 percent cap is better than no cap, it still means that people in the United Kingdom and Europe will put food in their cars that could have fed tens of millions of people. This is not acceptable at a time when 1 in 8 people go hungry globally,” said Anders Dahlbeck, Head of Policy at ActionAid UK.

EU Parliment copyThe EU is revising its biofuels policies and this week MEPs on the Environment committee voted on proposed amendments that will not have to be accepted or rejected by the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg in September. After that, the European Parliament will have to negotiate with the European Council (made up of EU governments) before a final revision to biofuels policies can be implemented.Read More

biofuels, Climate Change, food and fuel, Indirect Land Use

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFPOET-DSM Advanced Biofuels has hired Michael Nealon as the new Corporate Controller. Nealon will be responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the consolidated accounting and financial reporting function for POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC.
  • Omnitek Engineering Corporation has been selected by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for a pilot project to demonstrate its diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion technology for drayage trucks serving the Port of Seattle, Washington, in support of the Port’s Clean Truck Program.
  • Principal Solar has acquired the 3 megwatt Powerhouse One solar power farm that consists of four 750 kW ground-mounted PV systems located in Fayetteville, TN. PH1 is one of the largest operating PV systems in Tennessee.
  • IHI E&C International Corporation has been selected as the contractor for the Sundrop Fuels inaugural natural gas to gasoline plant project in Alexandria, Louisiana. The plant features Sundrop’s proprietary gasification technology for making renewable “green gasoline” from woody biomass.
  • Soitec has completed construction of the 1.5 MW Newberry Solar 1 project in San Bernardino County, California. It is the largest concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant in California, featuring Soitec’s technology with modules manufactured in San Diego.
Bioenergy Bytes